Vayehi

Jacob blesses his sons one by one, and this page becomes the matrix of all tribal characterizations: Judah the lion, Zebulun turned toward the sea, Levi without land. He crosses his hands to bless Joseph's younger son before the elder, reaffirming that birth order does not determine destiny. Joseph makes an oath that his bones will be brought up: the promise of return is transmitted as a deposit, before exile has even begun.